Finding My Homeplace: The New Program Director is Putting Down Roots

By Lyn Stanton
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My first day on the job was November 2nd, 2020. In the 3 months I have been here, I must admit, I am having a wonderful time. Every day, as I arrive on this breathtaking piece of land, I am struck by the gravity of its importance. Homeplace is an organization that honors the past to serve the present and ensure an enlightened future. Part community center, part living time capsule, and part laboratory for forward-thinking ideas, Homeplace on Green River is unrivaled in its uniqueness and potential. I am deeply honored to have been selected for this position.

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As this is an organization with many moving parts, I have spent the bulk of my time so far getting settled and getting organized. I am a woman who enjoys making lists and strategizing, so it has been tremendously satisfying work. Being new to this community, I have been meeting the folks who have brought Homeplace into fruition and am in awe of the impressive foundation that has been laid so far by so many dedicated, skilled, talented, and compassionately conscientious people. I have been giving very serious consideration to how to move forward in actualizing everyone’s individual aspirations for the ways in which to grow Homeplace, and take the programming to the next level so to speak. I have been fortuitous to receive an outpouring of support and have the very valuable hands-on guidance and partnership of a dedicated and wonderful Board of Directors. 

As to the road so far, well in addition to some administrative tidying and increased social media presence building, I had the privilege to help write a proposal to the State Legislature seeking a significant investment to create a massive pilot program for our education program: Kentucky’s Outdoor Classroom. If funded, we will be able to provide our 10 county region with immersive outdoor learning experiences for all 3rd, 7th, and 11th-grade students, in partnership with the public schools. I have also been busily learning the ropes about our festivals and helping plan Spring Plow Day with covid consciousness in mind. I am so excited to see the festival in action and look very forward to it.

Looking forward to upcoming projects, I am working on strategic fundraising campaigns, growing our rentals, updating our website, and introducing some new programming to the farm. I am so grateful to be able to stand on such a solid organizational foundation and I know that with the incredible help and vision of the many Board members and volunteers who have made Homeplace on Green River a part of their hearts, the sky is the limit!
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